Oct 10 - Luke 8:24

"Master, Master, we are perishing!"

Luke 8:24

Two things were going on simultaneously:

1. As the disciples were sailing in a small boat, a storm arose.
   
2. As Jesus was sleeping in a small boat, that same storm arose.

The disciples panicked. They feared for their lives. And yet, Jesus kept sleeping. Indeed, even when they woke him up, Jesus was still not afraid! Why?

Have you ever had circumstances that have caused anxiety ... stress ... even panic? In fact, have you ever wondered where God was in the midst of your storm?

In the back of that boat, Jesus had two advantages that the disciples didn't have ...

1. He knew the future. He knew his end would come upon the cross, not crossing the lake.
   
2. The co-creator of the universe knew he could simply rebuke the sea and cease the storm.

You and I cannot simply rebuke the storms in our lives and cause them to cease. But we do have one powerful advantage over the disciples in that sinking ship: We know the whole story; whereas they were still in the midst of the story.

Think about that ... This means that we know the future. We know it! Can you honestly say that? The disciples didn't yet know about the resurrection. But we do. And faith promises us two powerful things:

1. We know the creator and co-creator of the universe. And "sometimes," as Casting Crowns sings, we know that "he calms the storms, with a whispered peace be still."
   
2. "And other times," we are privilieged to know that "he calms the child" by telling us that the absolutely worse that could happen is that we'll go to heaven.

You and I probably aren't quite ready to go to heaven today, but what happens if we don't have to fear death?! Suddenly we can venture confidently into the raging storms, the fiery furnaces, and the lion's ravenous dens, and we can absolutely "fear not." 

In Christ's Love,

a confident sailor

(even though I know nothing about boats)